Organic treatments for the male sexual offender

There are three significant organic treatments for the sexual offender: antiandrogen or other hormonal agents; surgical castration; and stereotaxic neurosurgery. All are interrelated, and an understanding of the complex neurohormonal actions of the androgens is fundamental to their application. The relationship between the three treatments is dependent on the complex interactions between higher central nervous system functions and neuroendocrine mechanisms mediated via the hypothalmic‐pituitary axis, the testes, and their various feedback mechanisms. This paper discusses all three treatments, including a detailed description of background material and related studies, as well as the appropriate use of the treatments in the various types of male sexual offenders.